By By Drew Ellis / Special to Niles Daily Star
MT. PLEASANT -- It's not easy to be the guinea pig.
Niles FOP learned that lesson on Thursday as it lost its opening game of the Major Little League State Championship to Blissfield 11-2.
Niles is making its first appearance at a state finals tournament, and was matched up with a perennial baseball powerhouse in Blissfield.
Blissfield came out strong behind pitcher Eric Schmidt, who struck out the
first six batters he faced.
Niles gave up four runs in the opening inning before pitcher Mike Simpson
rallied to strikeout five straight batters and keep the score at 4-0 through two.
Simpson was taken out while on his strikeout run and replaced by Andrew
Brawley in the third inning.
Niles stayed close to Blissfield in the middle innings thanks to a RBI
single by Cameron Sly in the third inning and a RBI by Rick Briand in the
fifth inning.
Niles resumes play on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against West Branch.